Giant astronomy binoculars feature massive 80mm objective lenses and powerful 20x magnification. These binoculars are ideal for long-distance viewing of land-based subjects or astronomical observing at night. But how good are they?
Celestron SkyMaster 20X80 Binoculars
It's hard to describe what a pair of astronomical binoculars can do for the stargazing experience. In a word, it's "breathtaking." Suddenly, instead of squinting with one eye, you're looking up into the Cosmos with eyes wide open, taking in full panorama of the skies with an apparent 3D aspect that is technically there, but is effectively non-existent. If you find yourself getting out of a car or a building and staring up at the sky for a while, you might find that having a pair of binoculars nearby makes it even better. Having this pair of giant binoculars will make it even more better.
Key Specifications
- Brand & Model: Celestron SkyMaster 20X80 Binoculars
- Type: Astronomical Binoculars
- Price Range: About $200
- Key Features:
- Large aperture perfect for low light conditions and stargazing
- Eye Relief: 17 mm
- Integrated tripod adapter
- Best For: Staring up at the night sky or gazing off in the distance
Design & Build Quality
- BAK-4 Porro Prisms
- Multi-coated optics
- Water Resistant
- Weight: 75 oz
Performance & Features
The SkyMaster Series of large-aperture binoculars from Celestron offer phenomenal performance for astronomical viewing. Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 Binoculars are also a great choice for terrestrial use, especially over long distances. I purchased mine from Amazon but they're available from High Point Scientific as well. All models feature high quality BAK-4 prisms and have multi-coatings for enhanced contrast. The 20x80 mm model is waterproof and feature structural reinforcement of the main body, for maximum stability and secure optical alignment. In addition, they have a built-in super-rigid photo tripod adapter so you don't have to hand-hold them.
Having this pair of giant binoculars will make it even more better.
With the integrated tripod mount you can worry less about holding them and worry more about what to look at. Since it is a single point of contact though, be aware that it will shake for a bit as you move them. I use a Slik U8800 travel tripod because it's easy and the binoculars are just at the end of the tripod's weight limit. Something bigger would be better, but honestly, you're better off spending more money on the binoculars than the tripod in this case. In an ideal world, you'd get a dedicated parallelogram mount, but we rarely live in an ideal world. Use what you have or get a cheap tripod like the one I listed and you'll be fine. You can even hand-hold these guys for a while, especially if you're in a lawn chair with your elbows braced!
Ease of Use
- The 80mm objective lenses are basically two 80mm telescopes side-by-side. The difference is that even a cheap 80mm telescope is going to be much brighter than the binoculars. It will also be significantly more expensive and more complicated to set up and use. Once you've popped a pair of astronomical binoculars on your eyes, you may never go back to a similar sized telescope again.
- BAK-4 prisms are much brighter than the cheaper BAK-7 you see in "normal" binoculars. This means the full Moon will be so bright it will practically blow your eyes out. You'll see stars you didn't know existed. If you aim at the Orion Nebula, you'll see more than just a smudge (and probably even some color).
- In short, astronomical binoculars are the "point and shoot" devices of the astronomical world, and it's hard to go wrong with a classic set like these from Celestron.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- BAK-4 prisms are bright
- 80mm objective lenses take in a lot of light
- 17mm exit pupil allows eyeglass wears to use without taking off their glasses
- Tripod mount makes it easy to mount steadily on a tripod
Cons
- Somewhat plasticy feel in the joint mechanism that holds it together but it's very subtle
- If you're not used to using these, it can take a while for your eyes to focus comfortably
- The included "padded case" is really just a big neoprene bag that doesn't do much. Go yourself a favor and get something better.
Who Should Buy This?
- Ideal for anyone that wants to kick back in the yard and stare up at the stars
- Also ideal for anyone that wants to see things far away in daylight but doesn't mind an almost 5 pound pair of binoculars
- Best suited for scanning the night sky in an anti-gravity chair with a bottle of Pino Noir.
Final Verdict
Need to see the night sky but don't want to spend $1000 or more on a telescope? Buy these. It's that simple.
Yes, there are more expensive options. Yes, there are bigger versions. The "20" can be "25" in some versions, which is the magnification. But more magnification means less light anda 20x80 is better than 25x75. Only 25x100 is better, and those will be $$$. More expensive versions might include image stablizing lenses (did I mention there's a tripod mount?) or brighter optis (did I mention the Moon?) but for the money, you can't go wrong with these. I promise.
Where to Buy
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FAQs
-
Q: Will it work with my camera?
A: Doubtful. You might be able to rig an adapter to do through-the-lens astrophotography, but it will be janky as hell. -
Q: Is it good for looking at planets?
A: It is if you remember that planets are bright but very small. You won't see the Great Red Spot on Jupiter or the Rings of Saturn, but you might be able to make out the bands of Jupiter's atmosphere and you'll notice that Saturn is more football shaped than round. -
Q: Can it be upgraded?
A: The optics can't, but you can put solar filters on the front end and use it to look at the Sun. This is what I did for the 2017 Solar Eclipse and the views were spectacular!
Until next time, clear skies and I'll see you in the dark! Connnect with me quickly at BlueSky! Want more content? Please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Or you can (usually) watch live sessions on Twitch. Or even better, help support me in creating new content, getting new equipment to test, and to gain access to all of my digital imaging raw data! All content is copyright 2025 by astropotamus.com
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